June 14, 2012

Fifty years ago today, Richie Ashburn makes two errors in center field—could one of these be our yo la tengo moment? I’m sorry to report, it’s hard to say. Other oddities in this game though are clearer: starting pitcher Jay Hook fails to retire a batter and gives up five runs (the good news is that only four are earned). And in his final day in a Mets uniform, backup catcher Harry Chiti sees no action. The next day he will be traded to the Cleveland Indians, the team from which the Mets acquired him, in return for “a player to be named later,” thus making Chiti the only man ever to be traded for himself. Final score: Houston Colt .45’s 10, Mets 2.